Who Makes Kenmore Vacuum Cleaners?

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Kenmore Vacuum Cleaners

Kenmore is a trusted household name when it comes to vacuum cleaners and other home appliances. Their vacuum cleaners have been praised for their unmatched performance, high quality and efficiency in independent tests. The brand has cleaners for various budgets and uses. But, who makes Kenmore vacuums? What are the key features, which make this brand of vacuum cleaners to be outstanding? Let’s have a deep study on these vacuum cleaners together.

Who makes kenmore vacuums?

History of the Kenmore Brand

Kenmore started back in the 1900s. But, at the time, they made sewing machines and washing machines. Later on, they ventured into the manufacture of vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, dishwashers and stoves. 

While Kenmore is popularly known for their wide range of kitchen appliances, it is widely known for its vacuum cleaners. Actually, it is among the oldest brands of vacuum cleaners. Their first production was a revolving brush cleaner. It was affordable, of high quality and with high performance, considering that it was the first the company ever made. The brand has maintained these features to date.

Over the years, the brand has become the Americans’ favorite. Sears and K-Mart sell most of the Kenmore vacuum cleaners but did you know that Kenmore doesn't actually make them?

Who makes Kenmore Vacuum Cleaners?

So if Kenmore don't make their vacuum cleaners then who does?

Kenmore works with a variety of manufacturers to design and produce all of their home appliances. However, for the past decade, Kenmore's high end vacuums have been made by Panasonic (their lower end models have come from Eureka, PhoneMate and TTI).

However, earlier this year Panasonic confirmed that they are winding down their North American small appliance business and therefore will no longer be making Kenmore Vacuums as of the end of 2016. 

As a result, Kenmore has entered into a partnership with the Chinese manufacturer, Cleva, who will continue to produce Kenmore vacuums based on the Panasonic designs. Cleva have purchased tooling from the Panasonic plant in Mexico and shipped it to their factory in China. They are also reported to have hired many of the Panasonic engineering and testing staff. ​We expect that the Cleva produced Kenmore vacuums should therefore stay consistent with the existing models, however time will tell.

The only way to tell for sure where a Kenmore vac was made is to check the serial number on it for the source code (the first three digits ahead of the model number). Check out Appliance411 for a full list of Kenmore's suppliers.

There is a wide range of Kenmore vacuum cleaners currently available, including upright cleaners, canister vacuums, sticks and hand-helds as well as carpet shampooers. Depending on the features and the use of the vacuum cleaner, their prices range from 50 dollars to $600.

Why are Kenmore vacuums so popular?

In almost every American household, there is a Kenmore vacuum cleaner. Why is that? The brand has been around for over 70 years. Over the years, they have improved their manufacturing processes, to bring out the best models for their ever-expanding market. More people have grown to trust the brand. This in turn has improved its sales.

The vacuum cleaners are also of good quality and this is recognized in independent testing by organisations such as Consumer Reports and Reviewed.com. Indeed, Kenmore vacuums come out on top in the latest Consumer Reports tests and they are also winners of “Best of Year” and “Editor’s Choice” awards from Reviewed.com. Many of their vacuums are also certified Asthma and Allergy Friendly.

Who makes Kenmore Vacuum Cleaners?
consumer reports
Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly Vacuums

Quality is one feature, which the manufacturer of Kenmore cares to maintain. Most of those people who have used Kenmore in the past, can attest to this. The cleaners are long lasting. It does not matter what you throw at them. In addition, the cleaners have a wide range of features including bagless or bagged, suction control, HEPA filtration, brush roll on/ off function, long cords and other essential functions. As a result, their vacuums are convenient, high performing and efficient. Hence, depending on the type of the flooring in your home, you can get a vacuum cleaner of your choice under the Kenmore brand.

Besides having the best quality and performance, the Kenmore brand vacuums also retail at reasonable prices. The brand has maintained huge sales over the years, owing to the affordable prices. Hence, where you are looking for a vacuum cleaner, which combines performance and quality but it is priced affordably, Kenmore brand is the ultimate choice.

Kenmore Upright Vacuum Cleaners

Kenmore upright vacuum cleaners are available in several models, but there are those, which stand out. Based on our review of independent testing of these vacuums by organisations such as Consumer Reports as well as a thorough review of user feedback, these are our favourite picks of Kenmore upright vacuums:

Kenmore Upright 31140

High Performing Pet Friendly Kenmore Upright

Kenmore Upright 31140
  • Excels at picking up Pet Hair
  • Powerful two-motor system
  • 30ft power cord
  • HEPA Filtration
  • 4 position carpet height adjustment
  • Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly
  • Power cord is manual wind not automatic
  • Fairly Heavy (19lbs)
  • Ongoing cost of replacement bags

Kenmore Elite Upright 31150

#1 Rated Kenmore Upright Vacuum

Kenmore 31150 Upright Vacuum
  • 20% more powerful suction 3D Inducer Motor™
  • Infrared dirt sensor activates LED lighting
  • Extra long 35ft power cord
  • HEPA Filtration
  • 5 position carpet height adjustment
  • Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly
  • Reviewed.com "Best of the Year" 2016
  • Power cord is manual wind not automatic
  • Heavy (21lbs)
  • Ongoing cost of replacement bags

Kenmore Progressive Upright 31069

Best Value Kenmore Upright Vacuum

Kenmore Progressive Upright Vacuum
  • High performance cleaning on carpets and hard floors
  • Long 14ft hose
  • 30ft power cord
  • HEPA Filtration
  • 4 position carpet height adjustment
  • Low price
  • Power cord is manual wind
  • Fairly heavy (19lbs)

Common Features of Kenmore Upright Vacuums

The first point to note is that all of these vacuums are bagged rather than bagless. Although, bagless vacuums are very popular, bagged models do offer some advantages including a lower noise level, enhanced filtration and ease of emptying. We look in detail at the merits of bagged vs bagless vacuums in our Ultimate Vacuum Buying Guide.

There's a few more commonalities between these models. They all feature long cords, suction control, HEPA filtration and Kenmore's Power-flow technology, meaning a full bag won't cause a drop in suction or performance. This allows the air to continue flowing into the chamber, at all times, even when the bag is filled up.

Furthermore, they all come with a 1 year limited warranty and are equipped with a good selection of tool attachments: a telescoping wand, Pet Handi-Mate (air driven turbine for pet hair), combo brush and crevice tool. They also all feature manual floor height adjustment and the ability to turn on/off the brush roll, which is useful for cleaning different types of carpets

Our Top Choice - KENMORE ELITE 31150

The Kenmore Elite 31150 is what we consider to be one of the best upright vacuum cleaners out there right now. It’s a fairly large vacuum cleaner with dual motors, one that tells you where the dust is and where you need to clean. 

Kenmore Floor Care Elite Upright Bagged Vacuum, 26 pounds, Silver

BEST FEATURES

  • Long cord – 35 feet
  • Telescoping wand with 3 attachments
  • HEPA filtration
  • 5 height adjustments
  • Dual motor system
  • Infrared dirt sensor

Kenmore Elite 31150

Don't just take our word for it - the Kenmore Elite 31150 remains the #1 choice of bagged upright in Consumer Reports' Best Vacuums of 2019. 

Let’s take a closer look at exactly what the Kenmore Elite 31150 brings to your floors. 

THE INFRARED DIRT SENSOR

One of the coolest features of the Kenmore Elite 31150 vacuum is that it comes with an infrared dirt sensor. This is a really advanced feature that not many other vacuums come with. The sensor will activate an LED light which shows you exactly where you need to do more vacuuming. The light will then turn off once all of the dirt is gone.

It’s a really cool feature. No longer do you have to worry about whether or not you got all of the dirt, because the Kenmore Elite 31150 tells you.

THE DUAL MOTOR SYSTEM WITH POWER FLOW TECH

Something else that you might really like about the Kenmore Elite 31150 is that it comes with an advanced dual motor system. It features something called a 3D inducer motor, which is like 3 motors in 1, and that’s just one of the dual motors.

The result here is that you get around 20% more suction power than your conventional upright vacuum cleaner. This is combined with the advanced Power Flow technology, which helps increase air flow, while making sure that suction is never lost. The ultimate result is more cleaning power and the ability to suck up substantial quantities dirt from far away.

HEPA FILTRATION

Yet another one of the awesome features of the Kenmore Elite 31150 is that it comes complete with a HEPA filtration system. If you have allergies, or if you just don’t want a bunch of dirt and dust floating around in your home, this is a great feature for you. It filters out up to 99.7% of air pollutants and allergens, instead of spitting them back out into the air like normal vacuums do.

It’s a good choice if you want to ensure that the air you are breathing is clean and clear. It is actually certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America for the clean air which it produces.

ACCESSORIES

The other thing worth noting about the Kenmore Elite 31150 is that it comes with a telescoping wand that will increase your reach by 10 feet. It’s convenient for getting into those hard to reach areas, for curtains, and other such things too. The telescopic wand actually comes with 3 attachments. These include a crevice tool for tight spots and furniture, a dusting brush to get rid of dust, and a specialized pet tool for getting pet hair too.

Kenmore 31150 vs 31140​

The Kenmore Elite 31150 and 31140 are both pet friendly vacuums and are two of the highest scoring upright vacuums in the latest Consumer Reports tests. This means they are specifically designed to remove pet dander and hair from flooring and furnishings. The Kenmore 31150 has some additional features over the 31140 as indicated in our comparison above and it also has a more powerful inducer motor. In addition, the Kenmore 31150 has been tested under ASTM F558 as the most powerful upright vacuum cleaner amongst the leading brands.

Kenmore Progressive Upright Vacuums​

The Kenmore Progressive Upright models have been really popular for many years and are highly rated by users and Consumer Reports (#1 spot in 2012). The price of these models is very low for a relatively high performing vacuum, which explains their consistent popularity and high ratings. One of their handy features is an alert indicator, which signals you when the vacuum cleaner is clogged or the bag is full. 

KENMORE CANISTER VACUUM CLEANERS

Kenmore Elite Intuition Canister 21814

Byline about this plan.

Kenmore Elite Canister 21814
  • ​Weight: 23lbs
  • ​26ft Power Cord & 8ft attachment reach
  • Crossover handle for easy transition between floor types. No need to bend down to adjust the brush height.
  • ​Two-Motor System provides effective brush rotation and powerful suction for deep cleaning. 
  • ​Power-Flow Technology - a full bag will not cause a drop in performance
  • ​Stair Grip keeps the canister upright for worry-free stair cleaning
  • ​Aluminum Telescoping Wand allows for quick, simple height adjustments
  • Attachments Included: (5) Motorized Pet PowerMate Tool, Crevice Tool, Horse Hair Dusting Brush, CrossOver Floor Nozzle and Ceiling Fan tool
  • Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly
  • HEPA Filtration (HEPA Dust Bag & 2 Filters)
  • 4 position carpet height adjustment
  • Pet PowerMate™ attachment is powered by its own dedicated motor and is exceptional at cleaning stubborn pet hair
  • Brush Roll On/ Off
  • 4 speed variable control
  • Heavy
  • Reports of a defective locking mechanism where the wand releases from the handle with a slight pull and have required a replacement.
  • Not good for high pile carpets
  • Ongoing cost of replacement bags

Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush Canister 81714

Exceptional pet hair removal vacuum for plush carpets

who makes Kenmore Vacuums?

  • ​Weight: 22lbs
  • ​26ft Power Cord & 10ft attachment reach
  • ​Ultra-Plush Nozzle Technology - 32% easier push/ pull on ultra-plush carpet and excellent carpet cleaning on all carpet types including ultra soft carpet
  • ​Two-Motor System provides effective brush rotation and powerful suction for deep cleaning. 
  • ​Power-Flow Technology - a full bag will not cause a drop in performance
  • ​Stair Grip keeps the canister upright for worry-free stair cleaning
  • ​Aluminum Telescoping Wand allows for quick, simple height adjustments
  • Attachments Included: (4) Motorized Pet PowerMate Tool, Crevice Tool, Horse Hair Dusting Brush, Horse Hair Floor Brush
  • Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly
  • HEPA Filtration (HEPA Dust Bag & 3 Filters)
  • 4 position carpet height adjustment
  • Pet PowerMate™ attachment is powered by its own dedicated motor and is exceptional at cleaning stubborn pet hair
  • Brush Roll On/ Off
  • 4 speed variable control
  • Heavy
  • Reports of defective locking mechanism where the wand releases from the handle with a slight pull and have required a replacement.
  • Ongoing cost of replacement bags

These two Kenmore Elite canisters are in the top 3 of Consumer Reports ratings for canister vacuums. They both have similar functions and are particularly rated for their powerful motors, suction and pet hair removal. Although both work well on carpets and hard floors, the Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush Canister excels on high pile and ultra soft plush carpets. On the other hand the Crossover Floor Nozzle that comes with the Kenmore Elite 28174 makes transitioning between floor types a breeze. The Elite 218174 also comes with an additional accessory compared to the 81714 - the ceiling fan tool.

Where to buy Kenmore cleaners

The main distributors of Kenmore vacuum cleaners are Kmart and Sears. You can get any type of cleaners from these two stores. You can either buy the cleaners online or visit their physical stores. However, these two are not the only ones, stocking Kenmore brand cleaners. Other online stores where you can buy the cleaners from include Amazon and eBay.

Conclusion

To date, Kenmore has been one of the best performing vacuum cleaner brands. This is because of their dedication to creating high quality models at affordable prices, which every average household can like. Panasonic, who makes the Kenmore vacuums, have been continuously trying to remodel their products to meet the changing demands of the modern consumer. This kind of commitment to their consumers, have made the brand stand high among others for over 75 years. No matter the kind of flooring you have, Kenmore vacuum cleaners will never disappoint.

Last update on 2025-02-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

3 thoughts on “Who Makes Kenmore Vacuum Cleaners?”

  1. This is an excellent article and I’m so very happy to see someone else who is a vac enthusiast! I’ve been running a small ‘micro’ cleaning business for 24 years now, PrettNeat ®️ Cleaning Services, a very personalized and private business. I have loved it and also I have relied on the Kenmore/Panasonic canister vacs the whole time. Love them! I’ve tried pretty well all vacs and still would put my money on Panasonic’s. But now they are gone! I can’t find a canister Panasonic if my life depended on it! And now finding out that this company is in business with a Mexican company, I’m hoping I can still get one through some retailer soon since Sears is alsomgone from Canada.. If anyone can find any more info, please let me know, it would be very appreciated.
    Thanks,
    Su McSweeney
    Toronto, Ontario
    Canada

    Reply

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